NNSA Conducts Consequence Management Training in Vienna

Press Release

Nov 7, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced that the NNSA Office of Emergency Operations conducted consequence management training last week for the international community with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria.

The International Consequence Management (I-CM) training course provides attendees with information and data on means and methods for setting up and establishing a monitoring and assessment program following a nuclear/radiological incident or event.

“This international course provides commonly accepted methods and lessons learned by NNSA responders in Japan during the Fukushima accident," said Joseph Krol, NNSA Associate Administrator for Emergency Operations. “The training conducted in Austria is another example of the importance of working with the international community.”

NNSA is providing the training to 25 participants from 19 countries and the IAEA. The training course also includes hands on equipment training in techniques for monitoring and data collection and analysis.

NNSA currently collaborates with more than 80 foreign governments and 10 international organizations with projects ranging from providing assistance to foreign governments in improving their emergency preparedness and response programs, to joint collaborative activities to improve emergency management infrastructure worldwide.

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.